The sport's top women's player ended her longtime Paddletek sponsorship and signed a long-term deal with Franklin Pickleball in early 2026 — one of the biggest sponsor moves of the year. Franklin plans to build signature gear around Waters, including paddles in its C45 carbon-fiber line.
By Deco
Anna Leigh Waters’ move from Paddletek to Franklin reshapes the top of the women’s sponsorship board. Industry coverage in early 2026 described the deal as long-term and one of the year’s biggest sponsor shifts. Franklin has said it plans to build signature gear around Waters, including paddles in its C45 carbon-fiber line.
Pro endorsements change catalog calendars and ad creative faster than they change how a paddle feels in your hand. Expect more Franklin signature shapes, co-branded accessories, and Waters-facing product photography to show up through 2026 as the partnership ramps. That does not mean every Franklin SKU suddenly plays like Waters’ tournament setup, and it does not make prior Paddletek paddles “obsolete.”
A useful rule: treat signature lines as marketing + model identity, then evaluate the paddle on the same criteria you would use without a pro name attached — weight, balance, grip, thickness, and face. Our how to choose a pickleball paddle guide walks through that checklist without relying on tour logos.
Franklin already sits in many recreational kits through balls, starter sets, and portable nets. If your next purchase is a backyard or multi-use court setup rather than a flagship paddle, compare options in best portable pickleball nets 2026 and the brand-focused Franklin vs Onix vs Rally vs Selkirk nets guide. Paddle shoppers can still browse the curated paddle catalog for models we actually link.
Sponsorship churn is normal in a fast-growing sport. Use Waters’ Franklin deal as a heads-up that Franklin will push harder into performance paddles — then buy for fit and feel, not for the name on the throat sticker.
Coverage reference: source link (paraphrased; not a quotation).
Update
Engage ships its second full-foam paddle, the X2Engage followed 2025's Profoam with the X2, a full-foam paddle built around a Quad Density foam core. Pro Eric Oncins switched to the X2 in early 2026 and climbed into the top 10 in men's and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour — a useful signal that foam-core designs keep gaining traction at the competitive end of the market.
Update
Li-Ning enters the U.S. pro paddle marketChinese sporting-goods giant Li-Ning launched two paddles aimed at competitive U.S. players in early 2026. The entry is part of a wider wave of new-brand and crossover athletic brands testing the pro paddle market this year.
Update
JOOLA Refreshes the Pro V Line for 2026JOOLA's 2026 Pro V update — Ben Johns' signature series — adds KineticFrame technology designed to flex and store energy on contact, then release it into the ball. The refresh keeps JOOLA in the premium all-court conversation even as foam-core competitors push durability claims.
Founder & Editor
Deco (Declan Martin) is the founder and editor of US Pickleball Court and The Pickleball Court. He builds catalog-backed buying guides for paddles, court shoes, balls, bags, apparel, accessories, and portable nets, plus pro tour news and where-to-play coverage for US and Canadian players. Focus: verified facts, clear product comparisons, and honest disclosures — not hype.
